Tim Scott

As lawmakers and world leaders continue mourning the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is remembering his longtime colleague not only as a policymaker but as a friend who worked to bridge political divides.

Speaking with The National News Desk, Scott reflected on Graham's decades in public service, describing him as a lawmaker who combined humor, personal relationships, and a passion for solving difficult problems.

"In a time of strong polarization around the country, Lindsey Graham had this unique ability to bring people together—Republicans and Democrats," Scott said. "He would use wit and humor to bring both sides together on pivotal issues."

Scott said Graham's willingness to build friendships across party lines distinguished him in an increasingly divided political environment.

"Lindsey Graham was a person who leaned into friendship on both sides of the aisle, and that was going to be sorely missed in our country," he said.

Scott also pointed to Graham's longstanding focus on international affairs, saying foreign policy became one of the defining features of his Senate career.

"He loved trying to figure out how to solve complex problems and defuse incredibly hard situations," Scott said. "That's why he's been to Ukraine so many times in recent months, because he believed there was a chance for peace, and he wanted to be right there in the middle of it all."

Beyond his work in Washington, Scott said Graham's personal story shaped the compassion he showed throughout his life.

"One of the most important lessons of Lindsey Graham's life is sometimes the misery of your past can become the miracle for your future," Scott said.

He recounted how Graham lost both of his parents within 15 months while he was in college and then took responsibility for raising his younger sister.

"Losing his parents... really sensitized his heart towards others who were suffering," Scott said.

According to Scott, those experiences influenced how Graham interacted with people throughout his career.

"No matter what room you walked into, as long as Lindsey Graham was there, you were not invisible," he said. "He took the time to see people in corners of life where most people don't look."

Scott shared one of his favorite personal memories from his wedding, recalling Graham kneeling to speak with a young child.

"He got on his knees at my wedding with a little kid and made all the adults laugh," Scott said. "He got to his level."

For Scott, the moment reflected a broader lesson Graham lived by.

"Make sure that you're talking to people at the level they are," he said. "Everyone matters. Every single person has intrinsic value."

Scott said Graham approached policymaking with that same philosophy, always searching for areas where lawmakers could find common ground despite deep disagreements.

"He believed there was a place of common ground with everyone on some issue," Scott said. "Not on all issues—frankly, not even on most issues—but if you find that one issue where people can come together, you might find a path forward."

Scott pointed to Graham's work on foreign policy, criminal justice, and police reform alongside lawmakers including Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Marco Rubio, and Sen. Dick Durbin as examples of that approach.

"He was always in the mix of complicated issues," Scott said. "They didn't all work out well, but he was trying his very best to make sure the promise would be legislators working together in good conscience and trusted relationships to solve complicated problems."

Scott said that spirit explains why lawmakers from across the political spectrum have honored Graham following his death.

"You have Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders, and so many others who can celebrate the life and legacy of Lindsey Graham," he said. "Hopefully they'll take a lesson from his life and try to replicate it in the way they serve people."

The conversation also turned to the process of filling Graham's Senate seat.

Scott said he favors appointing a temporary placeholder while allowing Republican voters to choose a long-term successor through the election process.

"I'm hopeful that the governor will put someone in there for just the next few months, and then let the voters decide who they want to represent the Republican Party," Scott said.

Looking back on Graham's decades of public service, Scott said he believes his friend's greatest legacy will ultimately be his commitment to national security and foreign policy.

"I'm hopeful that when we look back 20 years from now, what we'll say is that the world is a safer place because of Lindsey Graham," Scott said. "He really had this passion for foreign policy."

As the Senate prepares to honor Graham's life and begin the process of selecting his successor, Scott said he hopes Americans remember not only the legislation Graham championed, but also the relationships he built throughout his career.

"He wasn't just a politician," Scott said. "He was a person who believed in bringing people together."